General Santos City News November 2011

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Socoteco II power rates up

by Edwin G. Espejo


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/26 November) — Electricity costs went up by at least P0.31 per kilowatt hour for November following the disruption of power supply early in the month as shown in the latest billings released by the South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (Socoteco II) this week. Socoteco II institutional services manager Geronimo Desesto said power costs went up following a P0.238 spike in the generation charge imposed by Therma Marine Inc. from where the utility firm sourced its supply shortfall when one of the two power plants of STEAG in Misamis Oriental was shut down for preventive maintenance. Transmission and systems losses costs also increased by P0.07 pushing the power rate increase to P0.31 per kwh (kilowatt hour). “Tamaas din ang transmission cost kasi tamaas ang generation charges. Sa Therma Marine natin kinuha yung kulang,” (Transmission and systems losses costs also increased because we sourced our shortfall from Therma Marine) Desesto explained. The cost of electricity is expected to drop in the December billing of Socoteco II. Socoteco II general manager Rodrigo Ocat however said power rates could go as high as P6.24 per kilowatt in February next year when the power sales agreement between the electric cooperative and Therma Marine takes effect. At the moment, Socoteco II is charging its consumers an average of P5.45 per kilowatt hour to include value added tax. Ocat said they have entered into a contracted with Therma Marine Inc. for an 18-megawatt supply to cover up for the announced reduction of supply from the National Power Corporation (Napocor or NPC). Therma Marine is owned by the Aboitiz Power group which purchased two of NPC’s power barges that have combined capacities of 220 megawatts. The NPC had earlier announced that it can only supply up to 70 percent of total requirements of Socoteco II starting next year, according to Ocat. Supply could go down further upon notice because of the delicate and declining available capacities from NPC’s generating plants. Socoteco II needs a base load capacity of at least 70 megawatts by early next year. The power distribution firm however has a peaking requirement of 107 megawatts. Demand for power supply is expected to increase once mall giant Shoe Mart (SM) opens in the second quarter of next year. Power supply and sales agreement between Socoteco II and NPC have been shortened to three years due to precarious and declining generating capacities of the state-owned power company. Socoteco II has also entered into a power supply agreement with the Alcantara-owned Sarangani Energy Corporation (SEC) which is building a 200-megawatt two-phased coal fired power plant in Maasim, Sarangani. The power plant is expected to start generating electricity late 2014. Representatives from both Socoteco II and SEC said they expect power supply to stabilize and power rates to go down once the new power plant begins commercial operation. Investors and stockholders of SEC were in Maasim Friday to lead the groundbreaking ceremonies of the power plant project which is estimated to cost a total of US$450 million or P19.4 billion. (Edwin G. Espejo/MindaNews)






PACQUIAO WATCH: Red Flags

by Edwin G. Espejo


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/18 Nov) – In journalism parlance, red flags are warning signs. Manny Pacquiao’s “uncomfortable victory” over Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez certainly points to ominous writings on the wall for the Filipino boxing icon. At this point, there is no telling if Pacquiao’s popularity has already reached a point where there is no other way but down. Performances that leave doubts to his ability to rampage over opponents will surely take their toll on his popularity as a rallying figure of the Filipino people, both as a world class athlete and a rising politician. The Filipino people, judging by the debate generated by his not-so-popular win over Marquez, were divided for the first time last Sunday. Maybe not equally divided but a line was clearly drawn inside the house. At this stage of his boxing career, Pacquiao is coming to the realization that, at one point or another, he will lose not only a step. He will soon find himself at the receiving end of punishments atop the ring either by his own doing or coming off another fresh, younger and stronger challenger if he stays longer than he should in the sports. For all the knockouts he had recorded over the course of his 59 professional fights, he also absorbed a lot of punishments. The many sparring sessions he had to log to keep himself in top condition as he gears up for a fight are as punishing, maybe even more, than the actual fight themselves. These are the wear and tear factors that many boxing fans often conveniently forget or gloss over. Manny is an epitome of a world class athlete when in the thick of training. But he also indulges in some splurges that will eventually take their toll on his physical well being. Boxing is a cruel contact sports that can turn even the sturdiest fighter into an ageing warrior overnight. Pacquiao is far from being one, for now. He may still be the same fearsome brawler-turn-finesse-fighter three or four fights down the road. But the bells are now tolling. He will have to decide soon when to put a stop to the beatings he had to absorb to secure a victory satisfying to his fans, a one standard he has set so high that a narrow decision win is actually viewed as a loss. The same may be said of his political stock. For as long as he keeps winning, Pacquiao will continue to tickle the imagination of the Filipino people. He is a rallying figure for majority of poverty-stricken Filipinos. For many, Pacquiao is the hope majority of the Filipinos never even had. But once he loses his luster as a prime fighter, many will nitpick on his frailties and vulnerabilities. The many untold stories about his personal life will no longer be glossed over by the accolades he is now getting atop the ring. Pacquiao needs to bounce back from the third episode of his rivalry with Marquez with a satisfying and convincing win in his next fight. Whoever it may be that Top Rank and Team Pacquiao choose. In fact, he needs to keep winning until he decides to finally retire from boxing. He needs to leave behind a legacy of winning before he finally goes for a national elective post by the time he is eligible, either in 2016 or in 2022. He needs to feed on the cult persona he has built over the years of his boxing conquest. But most of all, he also needs to clean the house of hangers-on, sycophants, freeloaders and opportunists. Because like it or not, these will be the same people who will eventually destroy the house that Pacquiao built. (MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. Edwin G. Espejo writes for asiancorrespondent.com.)





Newspaper executive killed in General Santos City

by CMFR


CMFR/PHILIPPINES – The circulation manager of a newspaper in General Santos City was shot dead by a motorcycle-riding gunman outside his office last 11 November 2011. General Santos City is part of South Cotabato, a province approximately 1049 kilometers south of Manila.

An unidentified gunman shot Alfredo “Dodong” Velarde Jr. in front of the compound of the local newspaper Brigada News at around 3:45 a.m. (local time). In a repeat of a common pattern in the killing of journalists and political activists, the gunman fled on a motorcycle driven by another unidentified man. Velarde was rushed to the hospital but was dead on arrival.

According to media reports, Velarde and his companion–who escaped unharmed–were waiting for the guard to open the gates of the newspaper’s compound when the incident happened.

Inquirer.net reported that the closed-circuit television camera installed at the gates of the compound recorded the arrival of Velarde’s car but the place where he parked his vehicle was not visible to the camera. The security camera also recorded the arrival of the two motorcyle-riding suspects, but failed to record where they stopped and the attack itself.

A police officer who refused to be identified told Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) that the police have yet to identify the gunman despite the compound’s close circuit television camera because the gunman’s face was covered.

Ernie Gabonada, station manager of Brigada FM station, the radio station of Brigada News, told CMFR that Velarde had a dispute with local tabloid dealers. He also said that the victim had been sued by two teenagers for frustrated murder. But Gabonada said he did not know who was behind the killing.

Meanwhile, lawyer Froebel Kan Balleque, spokesperson and counsel of Brigada News, told CMFR that the killing of Velarde might have been work related because “May rivalry or competition na nangyayari sa loob (There’s rivalry or competition inside the company).”

Balleque also said that Benjardi Mantele, acting regional director of PNP Region 12, has formed a special investigation group to investigate the killing.

If his killing was work-related, Velarde will be the sixth journalist and media worker killed in the line of duty in 2011. One hundred twenty-three journalists and media workers have been killed in the Philippines since 1986.





PACQUIAO WATCH: Here we go again

by Edwin G. Espejo


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/14 Nov) – I am one of opinion that Manny Pacquiao should not have taken a third fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. Sure, the first two fights were close enough to have gone either way. But Pacquiao deserved victories in both of those fights if only because he carried the fight to Marquez being the challenger, and punctuated them by four knockdowns. I believed then that the business was already finished between him and Marquez and if they were ever to fight again, it should have been a “friendly farewell” match for the Filipino boxing champion, a grudge fight before retirement for both of them maybe late next year or early in 2013. Economics and the color of money of course dictated Sunday’s third fight between Pacquiao and Marquez. I also thought given the progress made by Pacquiao over the last three years and the pathetic showing of Marquez against Floyd Mayweather Jr. installed the Mexican a heavy underdog with nary a Chinaman’s chance. Of course, I was dead wrong. So were many self-proclaimed boxing analysts and experts. About the only man who was right was Marquez himself. He proved he is the perfect counterfoil to Pacquiao. He defied all odds. Hell, he even convinced a lot that he won the third of their trilogy. Now comes Top Rank’s Bob Arum who said he will be working out a fourth fight between his prized ward and Marquez. I have high respects for Arum and what he has done for Pacquiao. But I guess this time around, a fourth fight can only be motivated by greed. Arum and the rest in Team Pacquiao, including Freddie Roach, should leave it at that. Let Marquez whine till he drops. Let the bloodhounds salivate till their tongues dry out. Never mind if the Pacquiao-Marquez saga will be debated no end. Never mind if in the deep recesses of many they believed Pacquiao and Marquez never decisively settled their own issues. That is the beauty of greatness. There will always be one to which you are measured against with. There is always one that will provide you the rivalry. A fourth one could end the same way as their first three fights and it will still not resolve the issue of who is the better boxer. Pacquiao cannot forever fight Marquez. Just as Marquez cannot hope to get the rematches he thinks he deserves. Both will have to move on, lest another folly takes it tolls on their health and physicality. Looked at what happened to both Muhammad Ali and the late Joe Frazier. They owned one of boxing’s great rivalries. Yet they were never the same men after their third fight. They would lose majority of their fights after they engaged each other in a near death 1975 encounter in the “Thrilla in Manila” episode of their trilogy. Ali would lose his reflexes in suffering from Parkinson’s disease long before he can enjoy his retirement. Before he died of liver cancer, Frazier too was afflicted with the disease that left Ali debilitated. One need not ponder that on the night Pacquiao and Marquez fought for the third time, a video tribute was shown at the video board of MGM Grand Garden Resort and a minute-long silence was observed. Marquez knows how hard-fought rivalries will take the sap out of even the best boxers in the history of the sports. His younger brother Rafael engaged Israel Vasquez in four brutal encounters they are now bound for retirement. The Mexican is even thinking of hanging his gloves for good. For his goodness, I hope he does. Marquez has nothing left to prove. He may have lost two of his fights with Pacquiao but these close defeats only cemented his legacy as one of Mexico’s purest boxers. And his place in the boxing Hall of Fame is now secured. All that he should thank Manny Pacquiao. After all, only Pacquiao gave him the real chance to prove his greatness. Fellow Mexicans and contemporaries Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera avoided him while the three were on their peak. They robbed him of his early entry to boxing stardom. Pacquiao gave him two chances. Nothing to be ashamed of even if he went down in two controversial fashions. (Edwin G. Espejo writes for www.asiancorrespondent.com.)

PACQUIAO WATCH: Slim to none

by Edwin G. Espejo


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/12 Nov) — Juan Manuel Marquez is probably the only person who seriously believes he will win tomorrow against arch nemesis Manny Pacquiao, whom he will be fighting for the third time. Even his long time trainer and mentor Nacho Beristain is conceding Marquez is facing a different and a far more polished Pacquiao than the Mexican last fought in 2008. That alone speaks volume. The oddsmakers in Las Vegas aren’t giving Marquez much sympathy, either. With the odds pegged at as much 10-1 against Marquez, you would think tomorrow’s bets are actually one way tickets to Marquez’ ‘funeral.’ Pacquiao has turned the tables on Marquez, physically at least. He is now the bigger fighter, although he carries only a slim one pound advantage over Marquez during today’s official weigh in. Pacquiao, boxing experts and analysts say, is now at his best fighting weight ever, meeting the 144-pound catch weight limit with ease. He has been fighting north of 140 pounds comfortably over the last three years and chopping off bigger and stronger foes en route to being proclaimed the best pound for pound fighter in boxing today. In addition, he has improved tremendously as a boxer with an underrated defense. Summing up, the Filipino is several notches above his featherweight days, skills-wise. And he has not lost those heavy punches, mind you. Marquez, meanwhile, is stuck in two or three weight classes under Pacquiao’s fighting weight and has not faced the same quality opponents that the Filipino made easy work out with. Except for Floyd Mayweather Jr to whom Marquez lost miserably while fighting as a bloated lightweight. But Mayweather has not been tested against Pacquiao, by his (American) own choice. For all of Marquez’s vaunted technical skills and reputation as a powerful and calculating powerful counter puncher, he repeatedly makes mistakes and has been on the canvass in as many times one can remember. He went down against Marco Antonio Barrera (although the referee ruled it a slip), Michael Katsidis and Floyd Mayweather. He found himself in trouble against Juan Diaz (first fight) and Joel Casamayor. Of course, he hit the canvass four times against Pacquiao in their first two fights. Marquez, along with Erik Morales (first fight), were the only boxers that gave Pacquiao plenty of troubles. But that was 15 or so pounds ago. Although Marquez has incredibly muscled up for this fight, many are not convinced he still got what bit takes to beat Pacquiao. In fact, he may have given up some speed that is pivotal in avoiding another crushing knockdown against Pacquiao. A knockdown he may not be able to survive this time. Marquez may still have a chinaman’s chance. After all, this is boxing. But it is like saying his chances of winning is slim to none. (MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. Edwin G. Espejo writes for asiancorrespondent.com)





Media worker in General Santos City shot dead

by Edwin G. Espejo


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/11 November) — The circulation manager of Brigada News in General Santos City was shot dead by a motorcycle riding gunman just outside his office along NLSA Road in Lagao, General Santos City early this morning. Alfredo ‘Dodong’ Velarde Jr. was waiting for the guard to open the gates of the Brigada News compound at 3:45 in the morning Friday when the gunman shot him at close range. Velarde died on the spot. He was 45. His female companion, who was seated at the passenger side of the company vehicle, escaped unharmed. The woman said she was not able to see the face of the gunman. The assailant fled together with a companion who was waiting in a motorcycle. Company guards said they heard four gunshots. Reports however said the killing was caught on the company’s close circuit television camera. Police are now conducting investigation including the circumstances and motive behind the killing, and reviewing the CCTV recording to determine if the gunman can be identified. Velarde Jr. was the first media worker from General Santos killed since the massacre of 14 journalists and media workers from this city who perished in the 23 November 2009 Ampatuan massacre along with 18 other media colleagues. Twenty-five other persons also died in the carnage. Other media workers from this city who were killed included Jonathan Abayon of the defunct RGMA Super Radyo, Ely Binoya of Radyo Natin and Dennis Cuesta of RMN’s dxMD. Lawyers Odilon Mallari, Boy de Castro and Vic Mirabueno, who were also radio commentators, were among the victims of unsolved media killings in the city. General Santos has the most number of media killings with at least thirteen journalists and media workers, excluding those who were gunned down in the Ampatuan massacre, already in the list since the early ‘80s. (Edwin G. Espejo/MindaNews)





Media worker shot dead in General Santos

by Aquiles Z. Zonio


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (Updated) -- A circulation manager of a local newspaper here was shot dead early Friday by two unidentified armed men on board a motorcycle.

Alfredo Velarde Jr., 45, circulation manager of General Santos-based tabloid Brigada News, was talking to Irene Rose Geronimo, a guest relations officer (GRO), inside his Mitsubishi Strada vehicle when the gunmen attacked him.

The incident occurred around 3:50 a.m. in front of Brigada News's office in Mahogany Street, Rosario Village, said Philippine National Police spokesman Agrimero Cruz.

Geronimo, 24, a GRO at the Pier 8 Night Club, told Ernie Gabonada, station manager of Brigada FM station and Velarde's colleague at Brigada News, that the gunmen opened the door near the driver side of Velarde's vehicle and shot him several times before fleeing the scene.

The victim was brought to General Santos City Integrated Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Crime scene investigators recovered four spent shells and three slugs of caliber .45 pistol, which the suspects used as murder weapon.

The San Isidro police took custody of Geronimo while investigation is ongoing.

Rey Ombana, another colleague of Velarde at the Brigada News, turned over to San Isidro police the victim's .45 caliber pistol loaded with 15 bullets that was recovered from his own vehicle.

A security camera installed at the Brigada News complex captured the arrival of Velarde's vehicle near the gate of the company, but the angle where the victim parked his vehicle was not visible to the camera.

The camera also captured the arrival of the two suspects aboard a Honda XRM motorcycle but the portion where they stopped and the actual scene of the attack was also not captured.

Elmer Catulpos, publisher of Brigada News, told Sun.Star Davao that he has no idea on the motive of the killing.

But Catulpos said Velarde had been facing problems related to his job as circulation manager for the past months.

"I even attempted to settle his problem with one of our dealers but the party involved refused to budge," Catulpos said.

Catulpos also said Velarde punched a guy inside J-Mix Resto Bar about two weeks ago but the victim did not file a complaint.

Two teenagers in San Isidro village had filed frustrated murder case against Velarde when they figured in a fight a few months back.

The case is still pending at a local court here.

Merlyn Velarde, wife of the victim, admitted to reporters that they are facing familial problem but she wants justice for her husband.

The wife said the last time she saw and talked with her husband was on October 28.

"I left our conjugal home after that and I temporarily stayed in Davao to avoid making things worse," Mrs. Velarde said.

She asked reporters not to highlight the family problem they are facing for the sake of their three children.

She said her children have been suffering from trauma due to their marital problem and the untimely death of their father.

Velarde Jr. is the first media worker from General Santos killed since the massacre of 32 journalists and media workers in Central Mindanao who perished in the November 23, 2009 Ampatuan massacre along with 25 others.

Other media workers from this city who were killed by assassins include Jonathan Abayon of the defunct RGMA Super Radyo, Ely Binoya of Radyo Natin, and Dennis Cuesta of RMN's dxMD.

Lawyers Odilon Mallari, Boy de Castro and Vic Mirabueno, who were also radio commentators, were also among the victims of unsolved media killings in the city.

General Santos has the most number of media killings with at least 13 journalists and media workers, excluding those who were gunned down in the Ampatuan massacre, already in the list since the early '80s. (With Edwin G. Espejo/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)





PACQUIAO WATCH: Narrowing the gap

by Edwin G. Espejo


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/10 November) — Skills wise, the gap between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez has narrowed down seven years after they first clashed in a feverish 12-round brawl that ended up in a controversial draw. Back then, the smaller Pacquiao was the bigger puncher but Marquez was the better boxer. Their contrasting styles were then perfectly made for each other even in their second match that Pacquiao snatched via a close split decision victory. Pacquiao was the quintessential aggressive fighter, Marquez always the sly fox waiting in ambush. On Sunday, Pacquiao climbs the ring the bigger man yet no longer the wild and unpolished one-armed bandit relentlessly chasing his victims across the ring. He has morphed into a more complete boxer having rediscovered and harnessed his right hand. Marquez has also reinvented himself. From a passive powerful counter puncher, he has injected some aggressiveness in his style. He also is bulking up for his Sunday date with Pacquiao. When these two protagonists in one of boxing’s famous trilogies clash over the weekend and remain true to their newfound tweaked forms, it will be a slam bang affair. It can end quickly however. Marquez knows he can no longer keep up with the frenetic pace of Pacquiao who has not slowed down a bit since bursting into the American scene via a sixth round knockout of Lehlo Ledwaba. He knows if the fight goes the distance, it is likely Pacquiao will again emerge victorious. Marquez needs to be more aggressive and look to unsettle Pacquiao with powerful jabs. These mean Marquez will have to dictate the tempo of their fight – a very tall order against a dynamo like Pacquiao. The Mexican will have to look for an early knockout. Unfortunately, nobody has done it against Pacquiao in the last 12 years. Marquez can no longer rely on his tested strategy of luring Pacquiao into a trap. The Filipino now knows better. Pacquiao, on the other hand, needs only to be able to connect with authority any of his powerful punches – the fearsome left straight and the explosive right hook he has perfected over the last three years. Remember how he dropped Ricky Hatton and Miguel Angel Cotto with those right hooks? They will be prefect off Marquez’ lazy jabs. Pacquiao will continually feint his attacks to keep Marquez off balance and on the defensive. No other fighter has the ability to reduce and send his opponent into their defensive shells than the Filipino lefty. The secret lies in Pacquiao’s blinding speed and unorthodox punches. Punches that are thrown the unconventional way. His left straight can start as an uppercut. His right cross can come from the waist. He has developed short punches that have gone largely unnoticed. He may throw punches at awkward angles but these are the ones that catch the receivers by surprise. They are not only stinging and biting. They carry so much weight they take away the will to fight from his opponents. These are what make Pacquiao a fan-friendly boxer. They knew Pacquiao will explode but they are waiting when and how it happens. Because with Manny, each victory is always different from the last. (Edwin G. Espejo writes for www.asiancorrespondent.com)

PACQUIAO WATCH: All things considered, fear is the factor

by Edwin G. Espejo


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/8 Nov) – For awhile, Manny Pacquiao used to wear “No Fear” apparel, being one of its then budding product endorser. Pacquiao now wears the universally recognizable slash brand Nike, a testament to his certified crossover star status not only in the sports of boxing but also in the American mainstream media as well. On Sunday, Pacquiao will try to put a closure and finish his trilogy with arch nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico. Their rivalry has spanned well over seven years involving two close but controversial fights that could have gone either way. Pacquiao holds the edge over Marquez with a narrow split decision win four years after their first fight ended in a debatable draw in 2004. Both fighters see each other as thorn on their sides although Pacquiao can easily walk away and claim there is nothing left to prove in fighting Marquez for a third time. But trilogies are supposed to happen that way. One more fight that puts a decisive ending to a rivalry. When they first fought, Marquez was physically the bigger man. The second time around, Pacquiao had to keep in check his weight as he was then already a full lightweight trying to snatch Marquez’s super featherweight title. On Sunday, the roles will be reversed. Pacquiao is both literally and figuratively the bigger man. At the agreed weight of 144 pounds, Marquez has bulked up his muscle tones hoping that he can still be the feared counter puncher that he was who gave Pacquiao all the fits that the Filipino could handle. But more than bulking up to be able to match and negate Pacquiao’s speed and power, Marquez’ corner knew that Sunday’s fight could end in a snap. The inimitable Nacho Beristain has grudgingly admitted that Marquez will be facing a different Pacquiao this time around. He and Marquez no longer see Pacquiao as a one-dimensional attacker who lived and die with his powerful left hand. This time the watchful eyes of Beristain during Marquez’s training has never been so intense. Marquez has never before undergone a conditioning that approximates Pacquiao’s rigid regimen over the last four years since Alez Ariza arrived in Team Pacquiao’s camp. Both Beristain and Marquez know this is their last chance at inflicting the greatest humiliation on Pacquiao. But they also realize that, now more than ever, Pacquiao now has what it takes to finally knock the cold out of Marquez. In fact, Beristain fears this and Marquez too. This is the fight both will wish they had not taken. (Edwin G. Espejo writes for www.asiancorrespondent.com.)





Guess who’s coming to Blogfest Soccsksargen 2.0?

by bariles


The Soccsksargen EXperience Tour for Bloggers must have already made an impression in the Philippine blogosphere that by the time we have started planning for its 4th installment which is still due in September this year, I have already received enquiries from bloggers.

The SEX Tour was started out in September 2010 by GenSan News Online Mag & GandaEverSoMuch as an alternative activity for a group of Manila-based bloggers who flew to General Santos City at that time but were left with nothing to do since their original reason of coming here, the Tuna Festival was moved to a later schedule.

The Soccsksargen EXperience Tour for Bloggers must have already made an impression in the Philippine blogosphere that by the time we have started planning for its 4th installment which is still due in September this year, I have already received enquiries from bloggers.

The SEX Tour was started out in September 2010 by GenSan News Online Mag & GandaEverSoMuch as an alternative activity for a group of Manila-based bloggers who flew to General Santos City at that time but were left with nothing to do since their original reason of coming here, the Tuna Festival was moved to a later schedule.

Needless to say, that initial SEX Tour was such a smashing success that we followed it up with a SEX Tour 2.0in February 2011. A 3rd version, the SEX Tour Tresin September 2011 was also hatched.

All these three SEX Tours did wonders in promoting South Central Mindanao by highlighting its eco/industrial tourism potentials, OTOP products and services of world-class calibre plus its bounty of heavenly gastronomic delights!

(We will be sharing the blog posts from the participants of the SEX Tour Tres in a future feature so watch out for it.)

And now for SEX Tour 4.0, we are expanding the itinerary to include more pitstops and adventours on a larger scale!

This time. SEX Tour 4.0 will traverse 3 Cities (Gen.Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong) and 3 Provinces (Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat) and will run from September 1 to 5, again right smack during the ATOP 2nd Best Festival in the Philppines awardee, the Tuna Festival!

So to keep everyone informed and even more excited, here’s the official teaser, the SEX Tour 4.0 poster, created by young Wizard designerJune Raye Prudente, a blogger from Polomolok, South Cotabato.

A registration fee of a measly P2,000 is the small amount required for each participant although we are limiting the number to 25 bloggers at the most. We have already pre-chosen 10 bloggers initially and will need to look only for 15 more.

Transportation fares to and from General Santos City plus expenses on hotel accommodations from September 1 to 5, 2012 will be shouldered by the participants themselves.

Check out GenSanHotels.com for very affordable lodging houses in the city. We can also assist you in scouting for the best places for you to stay while here.

Meals, snacks and water are all complimentary and will be provided by the SEX TOUR 4.0 partners and pitstops. Each SEX Tourist will be given a SEX Tour 4.0 Kit.

If you are interested in joining, just leave a message below detailing your reasons as to why you want to be part of the SEX TOUR 4.0. Along with those is the vow or promise to BLOG about each major pitstop of the tour afterwards. Be sure that your messages are convincing enough to make us laugh, cry, scream and eventually choose you as one of the official 25 SEX Tourists for 2012!





Pacquiao Watch: Tail of a lion or head of a rat, which one?

by Edwin G. Espejo


GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/3 Nov) – Rep. Manny Pacquiao is no longer a regular habitué of the Presidential Palace where before he can just drive past its gates with ease in his silver Porsche Cayenne or any of his latest top-of-the-line sports vehicles. Safe to say, too, he no longer probably receives regular hotline calls from the President or gets to attend dinner at Malacañang the way he used to during the previous administration. Heck, even the P250-million presidential commitment for his pet hospital in Sarangani project may never come. He says Congress is where he is meant to be when he joined politics, and probably the Presidential palace itself one day. Pacquiao looked like he wants to occupy the highest elective post in the land through the backdoor when he announced he will be trading places with Sarangani Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez in 2013. Or is he now being pragmatic to realize a job at Congress will not do his presidential ambition any favor for as long as he will be treated as just one of the boys, even a “boylet” of powerful brokers of Congress? No sooner than Pacquiao announced he was eyeing the presidency, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile immediately doused his ambitions with a cold warning: the presidential race is more than just a snake pit. And there is Pacquiao nemesis Vice President Jejomar Binay, one of the craftiest politician-operators Philippine politics has ever produced, not to mention all other presidential timbers waiting in the wings that he will have to contend with in a presidential race. Pacquiao probably now realized that being one of the celebrity members of the House of Representative is not enough to sustain his presidential ambition in 2022, still 11 years ahead, without draining his not so bottomless pit war chest. Come to think of it, Pacman knows – as his T-shirt slogan says – he cannot forever box, which is his main source of income. Once he quits or retires from boxing, so will the generous fight purses, commercial endorsements and perks quickly dry up. So, he is running for governor in his adopted province of Sarangani in 2013. That is a big step backward if he thinks it will be his vehicle to the presidency. No Philippine governor has ever been elected president in the Philippines. No presidential contender has ever launched his presidential bid outside of the national capital and got away with it by winning. The Philippine Senate is widely regarded as the honing ground for present and future presidential contenders. For Rep. Pacquiao’s political strategists, however, running for a Senate seat in 2016 while serving as governor in an impoverished province in faraway Mindanao, is a nightmare although not necessarily a political suicide. Never mind if Pacquiao is a national treasure and is still able to bank on the goodwill of his unparalleled achievement in boxing by that time. The senate race would be a different ballgame – the presidential race a different league of its own. I always believe Rep. Pacquiao is cut for the executive job not in the halls of Congress where endless debates fill the hall. Whether the governorship will eventually lead him to the presidency is always a career consideration for Pacquiao to weigh upon. But I salute his decision to run for governor in Sarangani. After all, why be a tail of a lion when you can be the head of a rat? At least in your own little kingdom, you are king.





Dreams lead to discovery of missing woman’s body, children say

by Aquiles Z. Zonio


GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines—For six months since April, the eight children of Nimfa Dajay had been searching and asking where she might be. Their father, Fermin — before he was arrested on a charge of raping one of their aunts—would give alibis, such as that she had gone home to Arakan, North Cotabato. The children’s desire to locate their mother heightened when she still failed to come home after their youngest sibling, Marlon, died in a road accident three weeks ago. But last Saturday morning, according to the account of two of the children and another relative, the search for the missing woman ended in an old and abandoned septic tank outside the house of a relative where they had lived before in GenSan’s Barangay Ligaya. Nimfa’s remains were recovered through the help of village officials and the police. Darlyn Dajay told the Inquirer in an interview on Tuesday that her mother appeared to her in a dream and told her she was buried near their old house. Bizarre at it may seem, the owner of the house, Alejandro Amoy, a relative, said he, too, dreamed of the missing Nimfa. He said she was very specific about where her body had been dumped. “Two weeks ago, Nimfa appeared in my dream and asked me to open the septic tank,” he said. Amoy said he brushed off the dream but on Saturday, he received a call from Darlyn, who told him about her own dream. It was then he decided to act. With some relatives he went to the septic tank, opened its cover and found a decomposed body. Amoy said he then called up village chair Romy Pagaduan, who, in turn, called up the police, and they retrieved the body. Nimfa was positively identified by her children through her clothes. “We were suspecting that something bad happened to our mother because she failed to return home despite the death of her youngest son,” Gerald said. He said they had no other suspect but their father, who had physically abused their mother. PO2 Angel Marquez, investigator of the Lagao police station, said investigation showed Nimfa had supported the filing of a rape case against Fermin by a younger sister. Fermin also allegedly raped one of Nimfa’s nieces. This, Marquez said, may have angered Fermin and led him to kill Nimfa. “He committed a crime, he should pay for it. He should have told us what he did to our mother so we can give her a decent burial,” Gerald said. Marquez said the police were now readying charges against Fermin for the death of Nimfa.





Machine Operator wins Gen. Santos City Elims of 35th National MILO® Marathon

by bariles


Unheralded Kidapawan native Gilbert Maluyo stamped class by beating a Kenyan runner in the men’s division while Rhodah Chepkirui stood firm all-throughout to rule the distaff side last Sunday in the penultimate leg of the 35th National MILO Marathon in General Santos City.

The 30-year-old machine operator Maluyo timed 1:14:54 to relegate David Kipoech Kipsang of Kenya to third place, while Chepkirui also of Kenya registered 1:27:40 to lead a total of 14 age group qualifiers into the Grand Finals on Dec. 11 at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Early bet Kipsang further compounded his woes when Elmer Bartolo of Holy Trinity College gave his all in the final kilometers to settle for second with a clocking of 1:14:56—a mere two seconds after Maluyo. Kipsang finished third in 1:15:16 followed by a City Hall employee, Royle Mariano in 1:24:23 and Family Country Hotel’s Jelbirt Gomera who settled at fifth in 1:27:34.

“I was trailing behind the Kenyan runner (Kipsang) until 9 kms into the race when I overtook him. I led at the turning point and went head to head this time with Elmer Bartolo. It was a very tight race until the very end,” said Maluyo.

Maluyo almost could not believe his victory as he was initially intimidated by the presence of a Kenyan runner and had little training. Maluyo shares, “It was a challenge for me to balance work and training and I had to wake up at 4:30 am to do a long run before I headed to work. Add to that, I was nervous because I have been hearing about Kenyans ruling races in Mindanao and Visayas,” Maluyo added.

Jerome Dela Rosa completed the top 10 cast with 1:27:39 for sixth, Rodolfo Villanueva at seventh in 1:30:38, followed by Paul Andrew Paradela (1:30:42), Francisco Veroy (1:31:29) and Diosdado Munar Sr. (1:31:52).

It was a different story on the women’s side as 24-year-old Kenyan runner Chepkirui led from start to finish outpacing last year’s National MILO Marathon Batangas leg titlist Maricel Maquilan who fell to second in 1:32:06.

“I found the race easy, I was alone from start to finish. Thankfully there were no strong local competitors and I was able to reach my goal to earn a slot in the finals,” said Chepkirui, who has been in the country for a month.

Completing the top five were April Rose Diaz who settled at third in 1:34:42, followed by Maria Estela Diaz (1:49:40) and Joan Natividad (2:08:04).

But the biggest casualty in the 21-k race was former three-time National MILO Marathon champion Cresenciano Sabal, who was unable to finish the race because of a foot injury. He is said to participate in the final Davao leg on Sunday for a final swing to clutch a spot at the finals.

The General Santos leg likewise produced a total of 500 pairs of shoes for selected students of General Santos City High School, Dadiangas South Elementary School, HN Cahilsot Central Elementary School, Ireneo Santiago High School and Balunto Elementary School as part of the National MILO Marathon’s ‘Help Give Shoes’ Advocacy.

More than 400 runners from the previous 17-leg elimination races all over the country have already earned slots at the National finals, which offers P300,000 cash prize to the winners in both the elite men and women’s 42.195-km class.

After the 16th leg, the nationwide search for the best runner in the country, will head for its final stop on Sunday in Davao City. On the run-up to the Manila Finals, the National MILO Marathon also announces it is already open for registration for 3k, 5k, 10k and 21k race categories through Manila Race organizer RunRio. Interested participants can log on to www.milo.com.ph for online registration.

P.S.

Meanwhile, here is a photo of Bariles and three of his friends who finished the 5K race of the 35th MILO National Marathon last Sunday along with him. Kaya niyo yan?

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